Trustees say his 16 years will have left the school poised for further success.

1:43 AM,
Mar. 13, 2014

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Written by

Drake University President David Maxwell will leave Iowa's largest private school a far better place than when he took the reins, supporters of the Des Moines institution said.

Maxwell, 69, the 12th Drake president, plans to retire in June 2015, the university announced Wednesday evening. By then, the New York City native will have led Drake for 16 years - the third-longest tenure in the school's 133-year history.

"It has been my honor to be president of Drake University," Maxwell told The Des Moines Register late Wednesday. "We have accomplished a lot together, but it has never just been ...